No communion for Ms. Nancy?

There’s nothing newsworthy when it comes to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) advocating a woman’s right to abortion. After all, she earned a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and last June, when asked by a reporter if there is a moral difference between aborting a baby at 26 weeks and what Dr. Kermit Gosnell did in Philadelphia in delivering babies alive at 23 weeks and then severing their spinal cords to kill them, she said:

As a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground to me when we talk about this. I don’t think it should have anything to do with politics, and that’s where you’re taking it and I’m not going there.

“practicing and respectful”

Ms. Pelosi’s statement didn’t escape the scrutiny of Cardinal Raymond Burke, the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, the highest ecclesiastical court in the Catholic Church, apart from Pope Francis.

According to a July 2013 interview in The Wanderer, Ms. Pelosi has violated Canon 915 which applies to “a person who obstinately, after repeated admonitions, persists in a grave sin–cooperating with the crime of procured abortion–and still professes to be a devout Catholic.” In the Cardinal’s view, Ms. Pelosi has divorced her faith from her public life. Therefore, she is not serving her brothers and sisters in the way that she must–in safeguarding and promoting the life of the innocent and defenseless unborn, in safeguarding and promoting the integrity of marriage and the family.

Speaking truth to power, Cardinal Burke minced no words:

What Congresswoman Pelosi is speaking of is not particular confessional beliefs or practices of the Catholic Church. It belongs to the natural moral law which is written on every human heart and which the Catholic Church obviously also teaches: that natural moral law which is so wonderfully illumined for us by Our Lord Jesus Christ by His saving teaching, but most of all by His Passion and death.

To say that these are simply questions of Catholic faith which have no part in politics is just false and wrong. I fear for Congresswoman Pelosi if she does not come to understand how gravely in error she is. I invite her to reflect upon the example of St. Thomas More who acted rightly in a similar situation even at the cost of his life.

For this violation of Canon 915, Cardinal Burke asserted that Ms. Pelosi must be denied Communion.

What makes the Cardinal’s judgment newsworthy are two, more recent events: 1) Pope Francis reappointed Cardinal Burke to his position last week and 2) Pope Francis said in an interview last week that the Church must be careful not to alienate sinners but, instead, become more welcoming and inclusive of them.

Drawing a line in the sand by denying Ms. Pelosi communion seems to put Cardinal Burke’s jurisprudence at odds with Pope Francis’ call for greater pastoral sensitivity.

Not to be disrespectful, but the Pope did not say that the church should welcome sinners or be more open to sinful people within the church. He said that the church, rather than focusing on consequences and negative outcomes (punitive teaching), should be focusing on life affirming and holy GOOD NEWS within the gospel. It is inherent in the gospel that all life is sacred and that Jesus died for all – including the unborn. It is impossible to have a church with any moral authority if it does not speak and act in defense of its teachings or, in this case, of the natural rights of all men as laid out by God. And Pope Francis’ call was not to invite unrepentant and unapologetic sinners in for communion just to be sensitive. It was to require us all to spread the good news, rather than spend all day talking about the negative consequences that come from ignoring that good news.

“I don’t understand how a person being a practicing Catholic (which she is not) can walk up to receive communion and feel worthy.”

She has been told by other Catholics that she was doing the right thing. Even if her own bishops have disagreed with her, they have sought out a pastoral approach of dialogue instead of one of judgment (denial of communion.)

Is there any doubt in your mind that our Holy Father would give Ms. Nancy communion? At his inauguration he did nothing to prevent any pro- infant killing politician from receiving.

His affirmation of Cardinal Burke in his present office seems to me do be done for the same reason that he has the job at all… it is much easier to keep Cardinal Burke out of the way by allowing him to keep the job. We get a shot fired across the bow from time to time by the good Cardinal but he is never allowed to actually make good on any threats.

Cardinal Burke has been promoted to irrelevance in the American Church. The Holy Father is pleased to maintain his irrelevance for the time being.

In 1 Corinthians 11:17ff, in addition to St. Paul’s explaining the tradition of the Eucharist in more detail, he also points out why it is so important for non-Catholics, and Catholics in the state of serious sin. St. Paul points out that the person who intends to receive the Eucharist must not do so if (1) he is “unworthy” to do so (i.e. he is in the state of mortal sin [cf. 1 John 5:16-17]), (2) he has not “examined himself” to make sure he is in the state of grace, and (3) he does not “recognize” the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. According to St. Paul, those who receive the Body and Blood of the Lord unworthily “eat and drink judgment” on themselves and are “guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” – a euphemism for “murder.”

We have the documentation to back up what Cardinal Burke is talking about (i.e., Sacred Scripture, Canon Law, etc.). What is the Bishop and Pastor of Pelosi’s Diocese saying about this? I haven’t heard or seen anything about it. It’s been going on for years and nothing has been done or said. And what about Joe Byden and Kathleen Sebelius? I mean we have many Catholics who support the culture of death and vote regularly on various bills but there seems nothing is said or hear of them as well. I know that what other people do is none of my business but when you see out right scandle going on daily while I’m held to the same rule it makes one wonder where’s the justice.

” . . . promoted to irrelevance in the American Church” = ” . . . the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest ecclesiastical court in the Catholic Church, apart from Pope Francis.”

‘K. Whatevs.

And again, perhaps simplistically, if one truly turns his/her back on sin, repents and chooses to follow Christ, is it relevant anymore what sin was rejected?

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

Isn’t forgiveness, especially through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, what Christ offers? To my elementary perception, this is the crux of Pope Francis’ biscuit:

“O hell, where is your sting?
O death, where is your victory?
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Dogma and the Magisterium are indispensible for creating not just good character, but a heart and mind that are most open to Christ’s teachings, guaranteed. But once the gates are open and the truth is received, those teachings have to be accepted and acted upon. James 2:14, no quote necessary.

Though let me say as I have before. The Pope’s style of communication frequently leaves him open to misinterpretation. Though I have no problem with emphasizing a personal relationship with Christ. This is Christianity.

“She has been told by other Catholics that she was doing the right thing. (moral fashion). Even if her own bishops have disagreed with her, they have sought out a pastoral approach of dialogue instead of one of judgment (denial of communion.)”
Priests have been given the authority to forgive the sin of abortion by the bishops (because there are so many abortions,) which was the power of the bishop, alone. Otherwise the bishop, In this case Raymond Burke, would know if Ms. Pelosi has reconciled herself with the teaching of the church about innocent human life beginning at conception. The priest giving Holy Communion must give the recipient the benefit of the doubt as he has no proof of the condition of Ms. Pelosi’s soul. That is pastoral. The bishops need to take back the power of reconciliation for abortion and let the penitents seek forgiveness in the public realm for this where Pelosi sins and seduces other Catholics into the horrors of hell. Moral fashion is the realm of the atheist.

Unless the Bidens and Sebeliuses seek forgiveness from their bishop, in particular and in public which is required because of their public office, what recourse has the bishop but to deny them Holy communion with Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist and partition these from the church?

There is a big difference between the private sinner and the public sinner. Both are alone aware of the state of their souls so we shrink from judgment but at the objective level the proclamation of a pro-abortion position is scandalous and must elicit a clear reaction. Nancy should read Luke Chapter 17, Verses 1 & 2.

I wouldn’t say that the distinction so much is private sin versus public sin as it is committing sin versus favoring it. We are all sinners, even those of us who accept in full Church teaching. It is the rejection of Church teaching, especially a dogmatic one, that places one outside of the Church, and when such rejection is public the Church should not allow one to claim to be in full communion.

“Drawing a line in the sand by denying Ms. Pelosi communion seems to put Cardinal Burke’s jurisprudence at odds with Pope Francis’ call for greater pastoral sensitivity.”

It certainly does not. Ms. Pelosi is welcome to attend Mass but she is not in a suitable state of grace to receive Communion. My 8th grade CCD class knows this one. Shame on you for perpetuating this nonsense to gullible readers.

Cardinal Burke is the first of American BIshops to remember their pastoral duty. I personally know of several Catholics in my own parish who believe that abortion is ‘an individual choice’ and ‘not my business’. These are people whose very statements place them in a state of mortal sin – people no doubt inspired by the pro-abortion statements of Pelosi, Biden, DeLauro, Courtney, and dozens of other heterodox Catholics. By failing to address this issue – compassionately but firmly – God alone knows how many people have been led into a state of mortal sin.

And you people here know this to be true. It simply does not fit with what you want to see happen in Holy Mother Church.

I welcome the wayward brother and sister – and will do so seven times seven times (look it up). But in order to be restored to Communion with the Holy See, one must follow the Magisterium. The Eucharist has no significance for a person who consumes it with sin on their soul and disobedience. For the unbeliever, the Eucharist is nothing more than bread. For a heretic – like Ms. Pelosi – it means nothing.

When she repents her sin, she will be returned to the fold. Until then, she needs correction.

20* But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her doings; 23* and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.

Pelosi has a legal residence in California. She lives in the DC area. Her bishop is the Cardinal Archbishop of San Francisco.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, DC will NEVER confront a pro abortion “Catholic” politician. Wuerl was fine with John FARC Kerry receiving Communion in the Diocese of Pittsburgh when Kerry spent his rare moments there with his wife Teresa, the widow of the late Senator John Heinz.